08/10/2026
As of today, I have officially transitioned from my role as Department Secretary for the Department of Philosophy & Religion into my new position as Academic Affairs Business Manager for Philosophy & Religion and Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures (MCLL) within the College of Arts & Humanities.
Friday, August 7, marked my last day as Department Secretary after 15 years and 7 months serving the department.
As many of you know, the university recently underwent a restructuring that resulted in the elimination of several positions, including some academic department secretaries, including mine. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to apply for and accept a new position within the College of Arts & Humanities, allowing me to continue my career at Christopher Newport University and with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
It is hard to put into words what this department, its faculty, and especially its students have meant to me over the years.
The best part of being a department secretary was never the paperwork, budgets, scheduling, or office management. It was the people. I will truly miss seeing our students every day, getting to know them, celebrating their successes, helping them navigate challenges, and watching them grow from first-year students into graduates. Being a small part of their journey has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Betsy Jelinek ("Dr. J") and the Philosophy & Religion faculty for their support, encouragement, kind words, and the wonderful farewell luncheon. Your thoughtfulness made this transition especially meaningful.
A special thank you to Dr. Hutch for the beautiful plant, a gift after my last interview, before I was offered a position. It has already found a home on the windowsill in my new office and serves as a lovely reminder of the department and the people who have meant so much to me throughout the years.
This month also marks 21 years at Christopher Newport University and 21 years and 9 months of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and experiences that have shaped my career, and I look forward to this next chapter.
While this is my final post as the Department Secretary, I am thankful that I will continue supporting Philosophy & Religion in my new role and remain connected to a department that will always hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends for making the past 15 years and 7 months so memorable.
With gratitude, and signing off one last time as Department Secretary,
Tara Z. Dixon đź’™
